Reclining chair and leg-rest control



Nov. 21, 1961 Filed Sept. 11, 1958 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,009,734

RECLINING CHAIR AND LEG-REST CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR.

Nov. 21, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEF'HACKE 3,009,734

RECLINING CHAIR AND LEG-REST CONTROL Filed Sept. 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hal llf INVENTOR. FQ/DTJOF Fl SCA'Z. M'PHACKE' Mir d FIG 6 Nov. 21, 1961 Filed Sept. 11, 1958 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE RECLINING CHAIR AND LEG-REST CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I V 7 n v w N #0 #1 /J2 A26 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,009,734 RECLINING CHAIR AND LEG-REST (JGNTRGL Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz Filed Sept. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 750,334 Claims. (Cl. 29784) The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs, and in particular to a reclining chair of the double movement type and to an improved leg-rest and control arrangement for such double movement reclining chair.

The well known reclining chair comprises a support, a back-rest mounted on the support for reclining movement about a back-rest pivot and a seat mounted on the support or on the back-rest for inclining movement about a reclining chair of the double movement type in which i the leg-rest is moved to an elevated leg-supporting position during a first phase or portion of the reclining movement as the body-supporting unit of the seat and backrest is moved to an intermediate or tilted or semi-reclined position, with the leg-rest remaining in the elevated legsuppor-ting position and moving substantially with the seat as the body-supporting unit moves into a final or fully reclined position during a second phase or portion of the reclining movement.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reclining chair of the double movement type. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved leg-rest and control arrangement which moves the leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position during a first phase of the reclining movement substantially independent of the inclining movement of the seat, with provision for maintaining the leg-rest in an appropriate leg-supporting position during the second or final phase of the chair movement,

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved reclining chair of the double movement type having provision for the independent but coordinated movement of the seat and leg-rest under control of the back-rest.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, my improved reclining chair of the double movement type comprises a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest pivotally mounted on the support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, seatcontrol means operatively connected to the seat for inclining the seat as a function of or in response to the reclining movement, a leg-rest mounted below the seat for movement from a stored position to an elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to the leg-rest for elevating the leg-rest in response to a first phase of the reclining movement. The leg-rest control means includes a controlling link which is mounted by an appropriate hearing means for pivotal movement about a relatively stationary pivot. A first actuating link is pivotally connected between the controlling link and the back-rest, with the controlling link and the first actuating link being operative during a first portion of the reclining movement to move the leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position.

A second actuating link is provided which has a lost motion connection. to the controlling link and a pivotal connection to the back-rest. The lost motion connection permits relative movement between the second actuating link and the controlling link during the first portion of the reclining movement, such that the controlling link pivots about the stationary pivot in response to rearward movement of the first actuating link. Appropriate means are operatively arranged between the back-rest and the second actuating link for blocking the second actuating link against pivotal movement relative to the back-rest after the first portion of the reclining movement. The second actuating link, when blocked, lifts the control link from its relatively stationary support such that the leg-rest control maintains the leg-rest in an'elevated'leg-supporting position during a further portion of the reclining movement, with the lost motion connection permitting relative movement between the second actuating link and the controlling link during said further portion of the reclining movement. Advantageo-usly, the seat control means may be in the form of a simple link which inclines the seat as a function of thereclining movement of the backrest with relatively little or no angular displacement between the seat and back-rest during the first portion of the reclining movement and an appreciable angular change between the seat and back-rest during the further or secend portion of the reclining movement such that the seat and back-rest move into the required angular position relative to each other to comfortably accommodate'the chair occupant in a reclining attitude.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several illustrative embodiments demonstrating features of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View, with parts broken away. and sectioned, of a reclining chair of the double movement type demonstrating features of the present invention and shown in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the reclining chair in the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in the extreme or fully reclined position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view with parts broken away and sectioned, of a further reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, shown in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 5 is an elevational View similar to FIG. 4 but showing the chair in the intermediate tilted or semireclined position; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the reclining chai shown in FIG. 4 but with the chair illustrated in the extreme or fully reclined position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3 a first embodiment of reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The chair 10 includes a support 12 having opposite side walls 14, 16 interconnected by appropriate cross bars or braces 13 and supported on depending legs 26.

Pivotally mounted on the support 12 is a body-supporting unit including a back-rest 22 and a seat 24. The back-rest 22 is mounted for reclining movement on a back-rest pivot 26 located adjacent its lower end and appropriately connected to the side walls of the support 12, while the seat is pivotally supported for inclining movement in response to or as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest 22 by the provision of rearwardly directed hangers 28 rigid with the seat 24 and having a seat pivot 30 to the back-rest 22 at a point spaced above the back-rest pivot 26.

Operatively connected to the seat 24 is an appropriate seat control means which inclines the seat 24 as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest 22. In this embodiment, the seat control means takes the form :of a seat control link 32 which is disposed in a forwardly requisite inclining movement may be imparted to the seat 24 as a function .of the reclining movement of the backrest 22.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat is a legrest 38 which is mounted for movement from a stored position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to various elevated legsupporting positions, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in response to movement of the body-supporting unit. In

this embodiment the leg-rest 38 is mounted for its elevating movement by a hanger 40 in the form of a double arm lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the seat 24 at the pivotal connection 42. The lower arm 49a of the double arm hanger 46 is rigid with the leg-rest 38 as by being riveted or bolted thereto, while the upper arm 40]) is connected to the leg-rest control means, which will now be described, such that the leg-rest is elevated to the required leg-supporting position in response to a first phase of the reclining movement (see FIG. 2) and thereafter is maintained in an elevated leg-supporting position relative to the body-supporting unit as the chair moves into the final or fully reclined position (see FIG. 3).

The leg-rest control means includes a controlling link 44 which is disposed in a substantially upstanding position (see FIG. 1) and is mounted adjacent its lower end end of the controlling link 44. Extending between the controlling link 44 and the lower extension of the backrest intermediate the pivots 26, 30 is a first actuating link 50 which has a pivotal connection 52 at its forward end to the controlling link 44 at a point spaced above the controlling link pivot 48 and a pivotal connection 54 at its rearward end to the back-rest at a point spaced above the back-rest pivot 26; The controlling link 44 and the first actuating link 50 are operative during a first portion of the reclining movement to move the leg-rest 38 to an elevated leg-supporting position relative to the seat, 'with the upper end of the controlling link 44 being connected to the upwardly extending arm 40b of the hanger 40 by a connecting link 56 which has a pivotal connection 58 at its forward end to the arm 40b and a pivotal connection 60 at its rearward end to the upper end of the controlling link 44. In response to rearward reclining movement of the back-rest 22 about the back-rest pivot 26, a rearwardly directed pull is exerted on the first actuating link 59 which in turn pivots the controlling link 44 through a rearwardly and downwardly directed are about the relatively stationary pivot 48. Such rearward turning movement of the controlling link 44 in the clockwise direction (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is efiective to exert a rearwardly directed pull on the connecting link 56 which turns the double-arm hanger 40 about its pivot 42 on the seat 24 to cause the leg-rest 38 to move to an elevated leg-supporting position, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The leg-rest control means further include a second actuating link 62 which extends between the controlling link 44 and the back-rest 22 and is efiective, with other links of the leg-rest control means, to maintain the legrest 38 in an appropriate elevated leg-supporting position during the second or further phase of the reclining movement as the chair moves from the intermediate semireclined or tilted position of FIG. 2 to the final or fully reclined position of FIG. 3. The second actuating link 62 has a lost motion connection between its forward end and the controlling link 44 which may conveniently take the form of an elongated slot 64 in the forward end of the second actuating link 62 through which slot extends the controlling link pivot 48. The pin and slot interconnection 48, 64 enables the relative movement between the second actuating link 62 andthe controlling link 44 during the first portion of the reclining movement such that the controlling link 44 may pivot around the relatively stationary pivot 48 in response to rearward movement of the first actuating link 50. The rearward end of the second actuating link 62 has a pivotal connection 66 to the back-rest 22 at a point between the back-rest pivot 26 and the pivotal connection 24 to the first actuating link 50.

Appropriate means are operatively arranged between the back-rest 2 2 and the second actuating link 62 for blocking the second actuating link 62 against pivotal movement relative to the back-rest 22 to establish the end of the first portion or phase of the reclining movement of the chair. In this form of the invention, this means is a blocking member 68 which is integral with the second actuating link 62 and engages a blocking bracket 79 fixed to the back-rest 22 rearwardly of the blocking memher 68. As may be appreciated by progressively inspecting F165. 1 and 2, the blocking member 68 comes into contact with the blocking bracket 76 as the angle between the second actuating link 62 and the portion of the backrest intermediate the pivots 26, 66 becomes more acute in response to reclining movement of the back-rest. When the blocking member 68 contacts the blocking bracket 72 to block the relative movement between the second actuating link 62 and the back-rest 22, the second actuating link 62, which for all intents and purposes is rigid with the back-rest, is effective to lift the controlling link 44 from its bearing cradle or yoke 46. The leg-rest control means maintains the leg-rest 38 in an elevated leg-supporting position during the further portion or second phase of the reclining movement, with the leg-rest control means moving with the body-supporting unit. During this further portion or second phase of the reclining movement, the lost motion connection provided by the pin 48 and slot 64 permits relative movement between the second actuating link 62 and the controlling link .4 to preclude binding of the leg-rest control linkage and in this sense serves as a compensating means.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention, a typical sequence of operations will be described making progressive reference to 'FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive:

As the chair occupant leans against the back-rest 22, the back-rest begins to translate rearwardly about the back-rest pivot 26 which moves the seat 24 rearwardly. Such rearward movement causes the pivotal connection 36 to the seat control link 32 to translate through an upward and rearward are which causes the seat to assume various inclined positions in dependence upon the design of the seat control means. Simultaneously, a rearward pulling force is imparted to the first actuating link 50 which causes the controlling link 44 to turn about the relatively stationary pivot 48 and achieve the elevating movement of the leg-rest 38 via the connecting link 56 and the double-arm hanger 40. During the rearward relative movement of the back-rest the second actuating link 62 moves rearwardly and translates about pivot 66 but such motion of the second actuating link 62 is not effective since the lost motion connection to the controlling link enables the second actuating link to move freely within the limits of the length of the slot 64. When the blocking member 68 of the second actuating link 62 contacts the blocking bracket 70 on the back-rest 22 to preclude translation of the link 62 about the pivot 66, the leg-rest 38 is in its elevated leg-supporting position extending forwardly of the seat 24 and the first phase of the double movement is concluded. Thereafter further rearward movement of the back-rest 22 about the backrest pivot 26 causes the second actuating link 62 to swing through an upward and rearwardly directed arc about the back-rest pivot 26 which lifts the pivot 48 for the controlling link 44. The entire leg-rest control-linkage translates upwardly to maintain the leg-restin substantially the same leg-rest supporting position forwardly of the seat. During the second phase of the reclining movement, the slot 64 in the second actuating link 62 compensates for any relative movement between the several links of the leg-rest control which may be occasioned by the fact that the seat 24 is positively guided by the seat control link 32.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 6 inclusive, there is shown a further embodiment of reclining chair according to the present invention which is similar in many material respects to the embodiment illustrated in FZGS. 1 to 3 inclusive. Accordingly the corresponding parts in this embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals as part of a 100 series. This chair 1113 includes a support 112 having opposite side walls 114, 116 interconnected by appropriate cross bars or braces 113 and supported on depending legs 121).

Pivotally mounted on the support 112 is a body'sup porting unit including a back-rest 122 and a seat 124. The back-rest 122 is mounted adjacent its lower end on a back-rest pivot 126 appropriately connected to the side walls 114, 116 of the support 112 for reclining movement, while the seat 124 is pivotally supported for inclining movement in response to or as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest 122 by the provision of rearwardly directed hangers 123 rigid with the seat 124 and having a seat pivot 13!) to the back-rest 122 at a point spaced above the back-rest pivot 126.

Operatively connected to the seat 124 is a seat control link 132 is disposed in a forwardly inclined position and has its lower end pivotally mounted on the support at a stationary pivot 134 and has its upper end pivotally connected to the seat 124 at the pivotal connection 136. As may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 46 inclusive, the seat control link 132 moves through an upward and rearward are as the seat 124 moves rearwardly under control of the back-rest 122 to incline the seat as a function of the reclining movement.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the sea-t is a leg-rest 138 which is mounted for movement from a stored position, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to various elevated leg-supporting positions, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 in response to movement of the body-supporting unit. In this embodiment the leg-rest 33 is mounted for its elevating movement by a doublearm lever 141i pivoted intermediate its ends on the seat 124 at the pivotal connection 142. The lower arm 1411a of the doublearm lever 14% is connected to the leg-rest 138 by a connecting link 141 having a pivotal connection 143 at its rearward end to the arm 140a and a pivotal connection 145 at its forward end to the lower end of the legrest 138. The leg-rest suspending linkage is completed by an arm 14) pivotaliy suspended at its upper end from said seat at a pivotal connection 149 and having its lower end connected to the rear end of a further connecting link 151 at a pivotal connetion 153. The link 151 crosses over the lower arm 140a of the hanger 140, having a pivotal connection 155 at the cross-over point, and has at its forward end a pivotal connection 157 to the leg-rest 138 contiguous to the upper end thereof. The upper arm 1411b of the double-arm lever is connected to the leg-rest control means, which will now be described, such that the leg-rest 138 is elevated to the required leg-supporting position in response to a first phase of the reclining movement (see FIG. 5) and thereafter is maintained in a leg-supporting position relative to the body-supporting unit as the chair moves into the final or fully reclined position (see FIG. 6).

The leg-rest control means includes a controlling link 144 which is disposed in a substantially upstanding position (see FIG. 4) and is mounted for pivotal movement into various rearwardly inclined positions (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Bearing means in the form of a cradle or yoke 146 opeiatively engage the lower endof the controlling link 144 and is connected to the support to provide a relatively stationary pivot for the controlling link 144. The cradle or yoke 146 is fixed tothe support 112 and releasably embraces a controlling link pivot 148 fixed to the lower end of the controlling link 1'44. Extending between the controlling link 1144 and the lower extension of the back-rest intermediate the pivots 126, is a first actuating link 150 which has a pivotal connection 152 at its forward end to the controlling link 144 at a point spaced above the controlling link pivot 148 and a pivotal connection 154 at its rearward end to the back-rest at a point spaced above the back-rest pivot 126. The controlling link 1414 and the first actuating link 150 are operative during a first portion of the reclining movement to move the leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position relative to the seat, with the upper end of the controlling link 144 being connected to the upwardly extendlng arm 14Gb of the lever by a connecting link 156 which has a pivotal connection 158 at its forward end to the arm 14% and a pivotal connection 160 at its rearward end to the upper end of the controlling link 144. In response to rearward reclining movement of the backrest 122 about the back-rest pivot 126, a rearwardly pull is exerted on the first actuating link which in turn pivots the controlling link 144- through a rearwardly and downwardly directed'arc about the relatively stationary pivot 148. Such rearward turning movement of the controlling link 144 is effective to exert a rearwardly directed pull on the connecting link 156 which turns the double arm lever 140 about its pivot 142 which via the leg-rest suspending linkage causes the leg-rest 138 to move to an elevated leg-supporting position.

The leg-rest control means further include a second actuating link 1162 which extends between the controlling link 144 and the back-rest 122 and is effective, with other links of the leg-rest control means, to maintain the leg-rest in an appropriate elevated leg-supporting position during the second or further phase of the reclining movement as the chair moves from the intermediate semi-reclined or tilted position of FIG. 5 to the final or fully reclined position of FIG. 6. The second actuating link 162 has a lost motion connection between its forward end and the controlling link which takes the form of an elongated slot 164 in the forward end of the second actuating link 162 through which slot extends the controlling link pivot 148. The pin and slotinterconnection 143, 164 enables the relative movement between the second actuating link 162 and the controlling link 144 during the first portion of the reclining movement such that the controlling link 144 may turn around the stationary pivot 148 in response to rearward movement of the first actuating link 150. The rearward end of the second actuating link 162 has a pivotal connection 166 to the back-rest 122 at'a point between the back-rest pivot 126 and the pivotal connection 124 to the first actuating link 15% aooavaa Blocking means are operatively arranged between the back-rest 122 and the second actuating link 162 for blocking the second actuating link 162 against pivotal movement relative to the back-rest 122 to establish the first portion or phase of the reclining movement of the chair. The blocking means includes a blocking member 168 which is integral with the second actuating link 162 and engages a blocking bracket 170 fixed to the back rest 122 rearwardly of the blocking member 168. As may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5, the blocking member 168 comes into contact with the blocking bracket 170 as the angle between the second actuating link 162 and the portion of the backrest intermediate the pivots 1'26, 166 becomes more acute in response to reclining movement of the back-rest.

.When the blocking member 168 contacts the blocking bracket 172 to block the relative movement between the second actuating link 162 and the back rest 122, the second actuating link 162 lifts the controlling link 144 from its bearing yoke 146 such that the leg-rest control means maintains the leg-rest 138 in an elevated legsupporting position during the further portion or second phase of the reclining movement. During this further portion or second phase of the reclining movement the lost motion connection provided by the pin 148 and slot 164 permits relative movement between the second actuating link 162 and the controlling link 144 to preclude binding of the leg-rest control linkage.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be con strued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

inclining said seat in response to said reclining movement, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest on said seat for elevating movement, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest in response to said reclining movement, said leg-rest control means including a controlling link, means operatively engaging said controlling link and releasably mounting same for pivotal movement about a relatively stationary pivot, a first actuating link pivotally connected to said controlling link and to said back-rest, a second actuating link pivotally and slidably connected to said controlling link and pivotally connected to said back-rest at a point spaced from said back-rest pivot, and means for blocking said second actuating link against movement relative to said back-rest to establish the end of a first phase of said reclining movement, said second actuating link moving as a unit with said back-rest during a further phase of said reclining movement and being effective to lift said controlling link ofi of the releasable means such that said controlling link is free to translate upwardly relative to said support as said seat is inclined by said seat control means.

2. An improved leg-rest and control arrangement for a reclining chair of the type including a support, a backrest mounted on said support for reclining movement about a back-rest pivot, a seat mounted on said backrest for inclining movement about a seat pivot, and seat control means operatively connected to said seat for inclining said seat in response to said reclining movement, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest on said seat for elevating movement, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest in response to said reclining movement, said leg-rest control means including a controlling link, means operatively engaging said controlling link and releasably mounting same for pivotal movement about a relatively stationary pivot, means operatively connecting said controlling link to said leg-rest, a first actuating link pivotally connected to said controlling link at a point spaced from said stationary pivot and to said back-rest at a point spaced from said back-rest pivot, said controlling link, said first actuating link and said back-rest and their respective pivotal connections to each other and to said support providing a control linkage for said leg-rest during a first phase of said reclining movement, a second actuating link pivotally and slidably connected to said controlling link and pivotally connected to said back-rest at a point spaced from said back-rest pivot, and means for blocking said second actuating link against movement relative to said back-rest to establish the end of said first phase of said reclining movement, said second actuating link moving as a unit with said back-rest during a second phase of said reclining movement and being effective to lift said controlling link ofii of the releasable mounting means such that said controlling link is free to translate upwardly relative to said support as said seat is inclined by said seat control means, the pivotal and slidable connection between said controlling link and said second actuating link serving as a lost motion connection during said first and second phases of said reclining movement.

3. A reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest mounted on said support for reclining movement about a back-rest pivot, a seat mounted on said back-rest for inclining movement about a seat pivot, seat control means operatively connected to said seat for inclining said seat in response to said reclining movement, a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest on said seat for elevating movement, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest in response to said reclining movement, said leg-rest control means including a controlling link having a pivot thereon, cradle means operatively engaging said pivot of said controlling link and mounting said controlling link for pivotal movement about a relatively stationary pivot, a first actuating link pivotally connected to said controlling link and to said back-rest, said controlling link, said first actuating link and said back-rest and their respective pivotal connections to each other and to said support providing a control linkage for said leg-rest during a first phase of said reclining movement, a second actuating link pivotally and slidably connected to said controlling link and pivotally connected to said back-rest, and means for blocking said second actuating link against movement relative to said back-rest to establish the end of said first phase of said reclining movement, said second actuating link moving as a unit with said back-rest during a further phase of said reclining movement and being effective to lift said controlling link off of said cradle means such that said controlling link translates upwardly relative to said support as said seat is inclined by said seat control means.

4. An improved leg-rest and control arrangement for a reclining chair of the type including a support, a backrest mounted on said support for reclining movement about a back-rest pivot, a seat mounted on said back-rest for inclining movement about a seat pivot, and seat control means operatively connected to said seat for inclining said seat in response to said reclining movement, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest on said seat for elevating movement, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest in response to said reclining movement, said control means including at least one controlling link, means operatively engaging said controlling link and releasably mounting same for pivotal movement about a relatively stationary pivot, a first actuating means pivotally connected to said controlling link and to said back-rest, second actuating means having a lost motion connection to said controlling link and pivotally connected to said back-rest, and means for blocking said second actuating means against movement relatives to said backrest to establish the end of a phase of said reclining movement, said second actuating means moving as a unit with said back-rest during a further phase of said reclining movement and being effective to lift said controlling link off of the releasable means such that said controlling link is free to translate upwardly relative to said support as said seat is inclined by said seat control means.

5. An improved reclining chair of the double movement type comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest pivotally mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, seat-control means operatively connected to said seat for inclining said seat as a function of said reclining movement, a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest below said seat for movement from a stored position to an elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of said seat, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest in response to a first phase of reclining movement, said leg-rest control means including a controlling link, bearing means operativelyengaging said controlling link and connected to said support and providing a relatively stationary pivot for said controlling link, a first actuating link, respective pivotal connections between said first actuating link and said controlling link and said back-rest, said controlling link and said first actuating link being operative during a first portion of said reclining movement to move said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position relative to said seat, a second actuating link, a lost motion connection between said second actuating link and said controlling link, a pivotal connection between said second actuating link and said back-rest, said lost motion connection permitting relative movement between said second actuating link and said controlling link during said first portion of said reclining movement such that said controlling link pivots about said stationary pivot in response to rearward movement of said first actuating link, means operatively arranged between said back-rest and said second actuating link for blocking said second actuating link against pivotal movement relative to said back-rest after said first portion of said reclining movement, said second actuating link when blocked lifting said controlling link from said bearing means for movement relative to said support such that said leg-rest control means maintains said leg-rest in an elevated leg-supporting position during a further portion of said reclining movement with said lost motion connection permitting relative movement between said second actuating link and said controlling link during said further portion of said reclining movement.

6. An improved leg-rest and control arrangement for a reclining chair of the double movement type including a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and backrest pivotally mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, and seat-control means operatively connected to said seat for inclining said seat as a function of said reclining movement, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest below said seat for movement from a stored position to an elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of said seat, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said legrest for elevating said leg-rest in response to a first phase of reclining movement, said leg-rest control means including at least one controlling link, means operatively connected to said controlling link and releasably journaled on said support providing a relatively stationary pivot for said controlling link, a first actuating link, means pivotally connecting said first actuating link to said controlling link and to said back-rest, said leg-rest control means being operative during a first portion of said reclining movement to move said legrest to an elevated leg-supporting position relative to said seat, a second actuating link, a lost motion jtains said leg-rest in an elevated leg-supporting position during a further portion of said reclining movement.

7. An improved reclining chair of the double movement type comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest pivotally mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, seatcontrol means operatively connected to said seat for inclining said seat as a function of said reclining movement, a leg-rest, means mounting said' leg-rest below said seat for movement from a stored position to an elevated legsupporting position forwardly of said seat, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest, said leg-rest control means including a controlling link, bearing means operatively engaging said controlling link and connected to said support providing a relatively stationary pivot for said controlling link, a first actuating link, respective pivotal connections between said first actuating link and said controlling link andsaid back rest, said controlling link, said first actuating link, the portion of said back-rest intermediate the pivotal connection to said first actuating link and the pivotal mount of said body-supporting unit serving as movable links of a four bar linkage and the portion of said support intermediate said stationary pivot and said pivotal mount serving as a stationary link of said four bar-linkage, said four bar linkage being operative during a first portion of said reclining movement to move said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position relative to said seat, a second actuating link, a pivotal and slidable connection between said second actuating link and said controlling link, a pivotal connection between said second actuating link and said backrest, said pivotal and slidable connection serving as a lost motion means for said second actuating link during said first portion of said reclining movement such that said controlling link pivots about said stationary pivot in response to rear- Ward movement of said first actuating link, means operatively arranged between said back-rest and said second actuating link for blocking said second actuating link against pivotal movement relative to said back-rest after said first portion of said reclining movement, said second actuating link when blocked lifting said controlling link from said bearing means such that said leg-rest control means maintains said leg-rest in an elevated leg-supporting position during a further portion of said reclining movement with said pivotal and slidable connection serving as a lost motion means during said further portion of said reclining movement. 7

8. An improved leg-rest and control arrangement for a reclining chair of the double movement type including a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and backrest pivotally mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, and seat-control means operatively connected to said seat for inclining said seat as a function of said reclining movement, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest below said seat for movement from a stored position to an elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of said seat, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest, said leg-rest control means including a controlling link, bearing means operatively engaging said controlling link and connected to said support providing a relatively stationary pivot for said controlling link, a first actuating link, respective pivotal connections between said first actuating link and said controlling link and said back-rest, said controlling link, said first actuating link, the portion of said back-rest interme- 1 1 diate the pivotal connection to said first actuating link and the pivotal mount of said body-supporting unit serving as movable links of a four bar linkage and the portion of said supportintermediate said stationary pivot and said pivotal mount serving as a stationary link of said four bar linkage, said four bar linkage being operative during a first portion of said reclining movement to move said legrest to an elevated leg-supporting position relative to said seat, a second actuating link, a pivotal and slidable connection between said second actuating link and said controlling link, a pivotal connection between said second actuating link and said back-rest, said pivotal and slidable connection serving as a lost motion means for said second actuating link during said first portion of said reclining movement such that said controlling link pivots about said stationary pivot in response to rearward movement of said first actuating link, means operatively arranged between said back-rest and said second actuating link for blocking said second actuating link against pivotal movement relative to said back-rest after said first portion of said reclining movement, said second actuating link when blocked lifting said controlling link from said bearing means such.

that said leg-rest control means maintains said leg-rest in an elevated leg-supporting position during a further portion of said reclining movement with said pivotal and slidable connection serving as a lost motion means during said further portion of said reclining movement.

9. An improved leg-rest and control arrangement for a reclining chair of the type including a support, a backrest mounted on said support for reclining movement about a back-rest pivot, a seat mounted on said back-rest for inclining movement about a seat pivot, and seat control means operatively connected to said seat for inclining said seat in response to said reclining movement, said arrangement comprising a leg-rest, means mounting said leg rest on said seat for elevating movement, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest in response to said reclining movement, said leg-rest control means including a controlling link, means operatively engaging said controlling link and releasably mounting same for pivotal movement about a relatively stationary pivot, means operatively connecting said controlling link to said leg-rest, first actuating means operatively connected to said controlling link and tosaid back-rest, second actuating means pivotally .and movably connected to said controlling link and operatively connected to said back-rest at a point spaced from said backrest pivot, and means for blocking said second actuating means against movement relative to said back-rest to es-' tablish the end of a first phase of said reclining movement, said second actuating means moving as a unit with said back-rest during a second phase of said reclining movement and being effective to lift said controlling link 01? the releasable mounting means such that said controlling link is free to translate upwardly as said seat is inclined by said seat-control means, the pivotal and movable connection between said controlling link and'said second actuating means serving as a lost motion connection during said first and second phases of said reclining movement.

10. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, seat control, means for inclining said seat in responseto said reclining movement, a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest on said seat for movement into an elevated leg-supporting position during a first phase of said reclining movement, and legrest control means for moving said leg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting position in response to said first phase of said reclining movement, said leg-rest control means including a cont-rolling member, pivot means operatively engaging said controlling member and providing a relatively fixed pivot for said controlling member on said support during said first phase of said reclining movement, link means operatively connecting said controlling member to said leg-rest for elevating said leg-rest in response to turning movement of said controlling member about said relatively fixed pivot during said first phase of said reclining movement, and an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said controlling member and to said back-rest for turning said controlling member about said relatively fixed pivot during said first phase of reclining movement, said actuating mechanism including first link means operatively connected between said controlling member and said back-rest for turning said controlling member during said first phase of said reclining movement, second link means having a lost motion connection to said cont-rolling member and operatively connected to said back-rest, there being a lost motion travel between said controlling member and said second means during said first phase of said reclining movement, and blocking means for establishing a fixed relationship between said second means and said back-rest at the end of said first phase of said reclining movement to establish a second phase of said reclining movement during which said controlling member is lifted relative to said support as said back-rest is reclined and said seat is inclined.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 724,386 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1955 1,113,444 France Dec. 5, 1955 545,279 Canada Aug. 20, 1957 

